BEIJING, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Chinese prosecutors have

indicted a Japanese citizen on suspicion of espionage, China's

foreign ministry said on Thursday, adding that the rights of the

people involved in the case would be protected.

The individual was indicted recently in line with the law,

Mao Ning, a spokesperson at the ministry, said at a regular

press conference when asked about the indictment of a Japanese

employee of Astellas Pharma Inc. ( ALPMF )

Ties between China and Japan have grown tense in recent

years as they contend with issues from territorial claims to

Tokyo's decision to release treated water from the crippled

Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.

Arrests of Japanese citizens in China have fuelled those

tensions.

The

detention of the Astellas employee

in China last year has cast a chilling effect on business,

some Japanese officials have said, contributing to a drop in

foreign investment and an exodus of Japanese expatriates.

The Japanese pharmaceutical company said on Wednesday that

one of its Japanese employees detained since March 2023 on

suspicion of spying had been indicted by Chinese authorities,

without naming the individual.

Japan's foreign ministry said a man in his 50s detained in

Beijing last year was indicted in mid-August, also without

identifying the person.

"China is a country with the rule of law, that

investigates and deals with law-breaking and illegal activities

in accordance with the law," Mao said.

"At the same time (China) safeguards the legitimate

rights and interests of the people involved, and facilitates the

duties of Japanese consular officials stationed in China," she

said.